Chapter 9 — 26 Days My Husband Lived In The Attic

“Investigative reporter.”

“I can believe it.”

“You shouldn't…”

“Tran Dien.”

I interrupted him.

“That security friend hasn't contacted me for three weeks.”

“I don't know how much longer my fake identity can last.”

“I can't keep hiding forever.”

“But if the news gets out…”

“That's why I chose someone trustworthy.”

I looked at him.

“I'll see him tomorrow.”

“Do you want to come along?”

Tran Dien lowered his head to look at Tieu Du sleeping in his arms. After a long time, he said softly:

“… I'll go.”

The next day, I took leave from work. After taking Tieu Du to kindergarten, Tran Dien and I drove to a quite deserted coffee shop in the north of the city. His disguise is very simple. Wear a mask. Wear my shirt. Along the way, Tran Dien hardly said a word. Just keep looking in the rearview mirror. Giang Han was already waiting inside. When he saw Tran Dien, he was clearly stunned for a few seconds. His condition now... is really bad. Pale gray face. So skinny that it's almost out of focus.

"Hello."

Giang Han proactively reached out his hand.

“I am Giang Han.”

Tran Dien nodded slightly, not taking off his mask. I gave the USB to Giang Han and simply explained the contents inside. He opened the laptop, plugged in the USB to check. About twenty minutes later, he raised his head.

“The origin of this master data…”

Giang Han looked towards Tran Dien.

“Can you confirm?”

“It's from an internal company shared drive.”

Tran Dien's voice is a bit hoarse.

“In the file properties there is still creation time, edit time and creator ID.”

“The creator is Ly Duy.”

“Manage my department's data.”

“Can he testify?”

"I do not know."

Tran Dien shook his head.

“After quitting my job, I no longer contacted any of my colleagues.”

“If we bring this data set to an inspection agency to request a re-investigation…”

“There are Bui Chinh Tac's people inside.”

Tran Dien interrupted in a low voice.

“He has connections in the drug evaluation center.”

Giang Han frowned.

“How do you know?”

“The department head once told me privately…”

Tran Dien's eyes darkened.

“Approval of GR-17 has been ‘touted’ in advance.”

Giang Han closed his laptop and leaned back in his chair.

“If we go in the direction of administrative denunciation…”

“It is very likely that this matter was suppressed internally.”

“But if the media breaks out first…”

He lightly tapped his fingertips on the tabletop.

"Public opinion creates enough pressure that the administrative side is forced to investigate."

“Can you do it?”

I looked at Giang Han. He replied very straightforwardly.

“But I need time to verify the authenticity of the data.”

“I can't just rely on one document file to post.”

“I need to cross-reference.”

“For example, finding the families of the six test participants…”

“Or find more people inside who know about it.”

“Quickly, two weeks.”

“About a month later.”

Tran Dien immediately shook his head.

“GR-17 could be approved as soon as this month.”

“Are you sure?”

“Bui Chinh Tac has begun preparing a commercialization plan after the drug hits the market.”

“Before I quit my job, I saw an internal email.”

Giang Han pondered for a few seconds.

“I will speed up.”

“One week.”

“Within a week I will give you two preliminary results.”

“But I have one condition.”

His eyes became serious.

“You two have to make sure for your own safety.”

“If something happens…”

“This pile of evidence is meaningless.”

“I will protect him.”

I replied immediately. When leaving the cafe, Tran Dien suddenly pulled my hand back.

“Khuong Mac.”

“When did you start to trust me?”

I stopped.

“What do you mean?”

“When Tieu Du said dad was hiding in the attic…”

“My first reaction was disbelief.”

“Then I installed the camera and saw you.”

He bowed his head very slightly.

“But even so…”

“You can still ignore it.”

“You might think I'm crazy.”

“Or tell the police to take you out.”

“So why…”

Tran Dien's voice trembled.

“… will you choose for me again?”

I looked at the man in front of me. The person had been hiding alone in the attic for nearly a month. Every day he only dared to sneak down to look at his son for a few minutes. The person was so thin that almost only a skeleton remained.

“Because you are my husband.”

I answered very lightly. Tran Dien stood still in place. The hat covered almost half of his face, but I could still see his lips trembling violently.

“I am your husband.”

I repeat again.

“Other things…”

“… think about it later.”

Tran Dien said nothing more. Just bow your head and get in the car. It was almost noon when I got home. I cook a meal myself. That was the first time in four months that Tran Dien was able to sit properly at his dining table. He ate two bowls of rice. A plate of fried tomatoes with eggs was almost clean. Also drink half a bowl of soup.

“Eat slowly.”

I looked at him.

“Don't choke.”

Tran Dien nodded but his chopsticks still did not stop. After eating, he raised his head to look at me. Red eye sockets.

“The taste of your cooking…”

“…same as before.”

“You're at least ten kilograms skinny.”

“Just fifteen pounds.”

Tran Dien smiled faintly.

“There's not much food in the attic.”

In the afternoon, I was in the office, starting to systematize all the existing information. I made a list.